Rock Hill, SC Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

Posts tagged ‘me’

Sixteen years ago today, Christmas got just a little more special for me. I married the most wonderful man and joined two families. It has been the best decision I’ve made. Over the years our family has grown up and grown together and for that I am grateful.

So when I think of Christmas, I feel so blessed that I cry. Happy Tears! God gave us Jesus so we could be in His family and Tim and I married to be a great family.

As a photographer, I am constantly working with couples and families to capture them. Yet, over the last few years I have neglected to get family portraits of my own family. My good friend Joseph Hawk offered to change that. Thanks, Joseph!

To be quite honest, this did not take nearly long enough. It was over before it even began….

Buck got home about 4:30, which was just enough time for me to finally get my outfit on and situated properly. Hair was fixed as well as could be done without a personal stylist…and make up was applied as well as can be expected, considering the face it’s going on. Once he changed, we were ready to take off. Oh, the excitement was building for sure at this point.

Don’t you love that jacket with that shirt? It looked so much better in my head.

See, all dressed. This outfit would be super cute if I were skinny. Man I long for the skinny days. So long ago.

So, then we decide to take his van since the A/C is still not working in my vehicle. I used to hate riding in that van…it’s one of those white work vans…but I found it much nicer to ride in than mine considering the A/C was working perfectly.

Ok, do we have everything we need?

Cookbook – Check

Refreshment (Caffeine Free Diet Coke-ftw) – Check

And we’re off. It only takes about twenty minutes to get to the bookstore, but with the traffic we were bound to be late…Oh my!!!

If you look really hard, you can see the city skyline in the distance. See it? Look closely.

See, the traffic is moving slowly. I love the lines of the overpass on the right. Ok, focus woman, we’re on our way to see Ree!

Ok, we finally arrive. Man the parking lot is packed. We had to walk a good three or four minutes across the parking lot. In my excitement, I think I must have been slightly running because I wear a blister on my toe! Silly Stalker, Buck says.

We finally made it. Ok, it’s time. It’s happening. It’s actually happening! I am just hours from meeting Ree. So we trek to the front door and the herd (the only word I can think of right now, not meant to be derogatory) of ladies is astonishing and hilarious at the same time. I believe I said, “Oh, sh!t !” upon realizing I’m not the only ‘stalker’ here to meet her. We move through the maze and reach the counter and ask for our ticket.

About our ticket….talk about L U C K Y!!! I’ve never been to a booksigning, so I don’t know how these things work. I called the bookstore to find out. The lady at Joseph-Beth Booksellers was so nice, I just couldn’t believe it. I mean a true southern lady. You used to expect this sort of treatment years ago, but it surprises me so pleasantly when someone is so kind and helpful. Anyway, she explained how the process worked and that I could come pick up a ticket anytime. Great, but I don’t really want to drive 20+ minutes each way just to pick up a ticket….hmmm, then she goes on to explain that if I have a Give Back card, they donate money to a charity, give me a gift certificate for $25. for their bistro and VIP passes to get in the front of the line to meet Ree. Wow, okay, let’s do that, but then I still have to get the tickets….She tells me they can put the tickets in an envelope and I can pick them up when I arrive on the day!!!! Hot Dog! So that’s what I did.

We get the ticket, VIP Group 1!!! In the background, the announcer explains that VIP Group 1 should line up now…OOoooo, that’s us! We move to the stairs and find out it’s time…NOW…not a few hours from now, not even an hour to sit and chat with my fellow stalkers, NOW.

Up the stairs we go, and a very nice group of gals in front of us offer to trade taking photos. YES, now hubby can be in the photos too. We never get to do that, one of us is always behind the camera.

See the people behind us on the floor of the bookstore?? Haha, they’re down there and we’re NOT! That was mean, I’m sorry….

Maybe you can see them all now…There are more on the other side of the stairs, see….

So, now just a few feet away. I’m excited! I mean, really, I am…

Ok, I do not know when this started, but this smiling with one side of my mouth facing down is not cool! I know hubby has called me Lucy (as in Lucille Ball) our entire marriage because of my antics and strange faces, but I do NOT like the looks of that. I will have to start practicing a different smile….yes, I AM that strange. For now, we have to focus…Ree is just FEET away…See the sliver of a green sign behind the lady with the HUGE red bag? That is where she’s sitting…PW…The Pioneer Woman. (It’s funny to think how enamored I am with her…must be the Lucille Ball in both of us)

There she is!!! Ree Drummond. I love her smile. She’s so geniune. Don’t worry, that’s not the last photo I got of her.

Are you beginning to understand why Buck calls me a stalker now? LOL I just wanted to make sure I got a good shot. Now I see I need to work on my editing and composition. That lovely top is black, not brown or green like they seem to be here.

Here is a shot of her and a group of ‘stalkers’.

I’m next in line!!! That’s my book on the table!

Here I am laughing at something funny she said. For the life of me, I can’t remember now what it was. Why does my brain fog out in moments like this? It would be so nice to remember.

Ugh, why do I look so horrible and she is so dang cute!? Look, she’s writing in my book…

I told her what hubby said about being a stalker, and she said, ‘No you’re not, we’re buddies!’

Then, it was over! That didn’t take enough time. I didn’t get to tell her about the goats, or any of the other funny things I had worked out in my head to say to her. Sheesh. What a dork. Well, anyway, we went downstairs to the bistro and enjoyed this lovely appetizer.

Brie with walnut and caramel sauce.

It was delicious. Unfortunately, their dishwasher and bus boy decided to play hookie, so we didn’t eat our meal. They were so packed, we decided to leave.

And that’s it…The End.

Ooo, wait. She was on WFAE 90.7 this morning. Here’s the link: Ree on WFAE

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OMG, OMG, OMG!!! It’s that day!!! I get to meet Ree today! I am soooooo excited. I made sure to get a good night’s sleep so I wouldn’t be tired on top of the excitedness. That would be such a bad sight….me tired and excited….I’d be liable to climb the walls.

Anyway, li’l daughter and I picked out an outfit yesterday. Down to the wedges…Ree likes wedges, too. Brown and turquoise halter top with gold trim and tan jacket and my favorite dark blue jeans. I still have to decide on earrings, though…hmmm…have to go do that now! BRB

Ok, I’m back. Turquoise earrings..YES

I fixed my hair a little while ago before going to pick up the cookbook Ree will sign tonight. My son and husband gave me money to buy the book for my birthday. Yesterday was my birthday!! I get to meet Ree for my birthday!!! The girl at the bookstore said its been very popular lately…DUH…The best cookbook ever….considering I hate to cook and bought a cookbook at all is astonishing, much less that I actually don’t mind cooking when I can look and compare my cooking with her photos. Back to the hair…well, my A/C in the Suburban decided NOT to work. WHAT? Today? Seriously, does this vehicle not understand the importance of staying cool on such an important day? So I had to ride with all the windows down to keep from melting in this 90+ heat. I should go turn the curling iron on….only 3 1/2 hours until THE TIME.

Curling ironS on: Check.

I’ve been doing INY checks all day. Seriously….I have a phobia like she does, and I don’t want to embarrass myself. See when I was young…much too young to be kissing a boy…all of 12…way too young come to think of it, what was I thinking? Anyway, I had a crush and a dying NEED to be kissed by Michael…I don’t remember Michael’s last name now…he’s probably glad. We were standing against the wall of my junior high school and he leaned down and kissed me. Cool, right….NOT…When I opened my eyes, there was a sight no person should ever behold….I nearly threw up right then and there….a nose full of snot. Yellow, green, slimy, nasty, gross snot….and now you understand why I’ve been doing INY checks all day. I’m still excited.

Maggie, my schnauzer finally gave up on my sharing my Chick-fil-A. DUH, Maggie, I barely share with PNut(my son)….and he walks upright and came from my loins.

I sure hope the A/C is working in hubby’s van. I wonder if he’d be mad if I shared his nickname…We shall ever more refer to him as Buck.

Ok, well the clock is ticking and I am not getting anything accomplished sitting here. Will update later. I’m excited. Did I mention that before?

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I am very excited to start this blog. I hope you will enjoy our journey. I don’t always know what to write, but I will try to share with you my love of photography, my beautiful, wonderful clients, and maybe a tidbit of who I am. Feel free to comment and let me know what you would like to see or know.This is me in my southern lady hat. haha. I bought it this year to keep my shoulders and nose from being toast in the sun. I don’t always have the most fashion forward ideas, but they make me who I am.

Here we are at Fort Macon in North Carolina. We were fortunate enough to get to tour the place while visiting the area to shoot a wedding in the Outerbanks.